Yeah, Win8 truly blows in these types of situations. But let me tell you what I do to play this on my Win8 laptop.

First, turn off all the compatibility modes you just turned on.Run everything as admin.Launch Arc.Play ElSword.After it patches and X-Trap does its thing, the client should pop up in all white.Immediately do alt+ctrl+del.Wait roughly ten seconds, you may have to time it differently, and hit esc.If you timed it right, on the bottom right of the client, it should say loading and the game will work fine every time you launch this way. If you waited too long, it'll just stay frozen on the screen with music in the background or something. In which case, close down the client and try the above steps again with slightly different timing.

If you hear a beep and music while in the alt+ctrl+del screen. You waited WAAAAAY too long.

Yeah, Win8 truly blows in these types of situations. But let me tell you what I do to play this on my Win8 laptop.

First, turn off all the compatibility modes you just turned on.Run everything as admin.Launch Arc.Play ElSword.After it patches and X-Trap does its thing, the client should pop up in all white.Immediately do alt+ctrl+del.Wait roughly ten seconds, you may have to time it differently, and hit esc.If you timed it right, on the bottom right of the client, it should say loading and the game will work fine every time you launch this way. If you waited too long, it'll just stay frozen on the screen with music in the background or something. In which case, close down the client and try the above steps again with slightly different timing.

If you hear a beep and music while in the alt+ctrl+del screen. You waited WAAAAAY too long.

I have a slightly different issue, tbh - it runs just fine, but has a tendency to crash after a while - never timed it between crashes. It starts up again just fine, but once again, it'll crash after a while. Usually happens during scene switches in dungeons and clearing quests.

well, just appear a black screen, and dont work, i tryed all, so . . . . welcome to uninstall, users dont should resolve the work of developers, who must to worry for have their product usable and working. sorry, MMORPGS have many, man, sooooooooooo many for i need breaking my head with this (uninstall done) thanks

okay so myself and about dozen people are now uninstalling this game (elsword) because we are not able to log. Maybe we will try again when we hear the issues have been fixed. this product is turning out to be a disappointment for those of us wanting to play but can't do to these wonderful issues

Dear Arc, Hihi, Having the same problem as these other guys. I downloaded it the first day and it ran fine and now it will not run. Thank you for looking into it Arc!

Dear Gamers,If you are having the same issue as I am (and it appers you are) there is one thing you can do besides uninstall and forget about it. You can wait for them to fix it, and in the mean time download the game from the original site and make a new character. Then when they fix it, you can play this character again and uninstall the straight download!

It just seems to me yelling at Arc will not make them fix it faster, and just posting about uninstalling it in a whineing tone won't get you the ability to play it while they fix it. Try my solution instead? Just a suggestion! I am already on lvl 20 with my temporary character!

Dear Arc, Hihi, Having the same problem as these other guys. I downloaded it the first day and it ran fine and now it will not run. Thank you for looking into it Arc!

Dear Gamers,If you are having the same issue as I am (and it appers you are) there is one thing you can do besides uninstall and forget about it. You can wait for them to fix it, and in the mean time download the game from the original site and make a new character. Then when they fix it, you can play this character again and uninstall the straight download!

It just seems to me yelling at Arc will not make them fix it faster, and just posting about uninstalling it in a whineing tone won't get you the ability to play it while they fix it. Try my solution instead? Just a suggestion! I am already on lvl 20 with my temporary character!

My fix was to go to the actual file and click the game, run it as admin, it worked perfectly fine. Games updating as I type. idk if i can play yet but its finally doing something. Arc is open, but I didnt go through Arc to play. I went straight to the downloaded file. I'll let you know if i got in and can play. But so far, this has worked for me..Seems when I try play through Arc it doesn't work (X2.exe). But when I go through the actual game (Elsword.exe), it works perfectly fine. So, I believe, atleast in my situation, its the Arc version thats not working and has problems...after it downloaded and i got to sign in (X2.exe) it loaded a whole bunch moreEdit; I'm in. Worked for me..

How is possible that ARC give us a crashed game?, what kind of joke is this?. They can working too hard to fix it, but is not the solution in thi case. Sincerely, this game will get the same goal than rusty hearts.

Dear Arc, Hihi, Having the same problem as these other guys. I downloaded it the first day and it ran fine and now it will not run. Thank you for looking into it Arc!

Dear Gamers,If you are having the same issue as I am (and it appers you are) there is one thing you can do besides uninstall and forget about it. You can wait for them to fix it, and in the mean time download the game from the original site and make a new character. Then when they fix it, you can play this character again and uninstall the straight download!

It just seems to me yelling at Arc will not make them fix it faster, and just posting about uninstalling it in a whineing tone won't get you the ability to play it while they fix it. Try my solution instead? Just a suggestion! I am already on lvl 20 with my temporary character!

My fix was to go to the actual file and click the game, run it as admin, it worked perfectly fine. Games updating as I type. idk if i can play yet but its finally doing something. Arc is open, but I didnt go through Arc to play. I went straight to the downloaded file. I'll let you know if i got in and can play. But so far, this has worked for me..Seems when I try play through Arc it doesn't work (X2.exe). But when I go through the actual game (Elsword.exe), it works perfectly fine. So, I believe, atleast in my situation, its the Arc version thats not working and has problems...after it downloaded and i got to sign in (X2.exe) it loaded a whole bunch moreEdit; I'm in. Worked for me..

yea, it appears to be "flakey" - My Arc started updating and I'm just now able to repair and finally got Login Screen.Since the Title is still running on Aeria, my thought is Arc/PWE is trying to Port into the existing Server or they will finally take over the Server.

until then, it's my opinion that Arc/PWE *is* working on this - this is like a DJ's Equipment Failing in the middle of a Set.

If there is a Server Merge - that's Major. think, DCUO. PC and ConsoleIf it is a Takeover - that's Major. think Rockstar Games being bought by EA but released under the umbrella

as you can see - either is a Major under-taking and requires Testing and Patience.

my only thought is why were we not given a chance to Alpha/Beta the Crossover? doesn't mean i'm screaming on Arc - it's a viable question.

Surprise / Awe Factor is lost in trying to play - those that can, Congratulations. (seriously)

.......i'm still confused at who was yelling at Support - all I read was some of us having issues and then Reporting the Issue with Screenies to back up said Issue.

if that's yelling - you cannot make it during the 24/7 "Crunch-Time" to get a Title out so dont ever apply for a Gaming Company - especially EA - now this <--- this is me acten a fool - but, Ive been there, done this and owned it.

when you do - you'll understand - I'm one of the good guys on your side ... problem? you noticed too late.

I had a similair problem with all you guys. When i started the game (windows 7) the screen stays black/grey and nothing happened till it said not responding.I tried all the steps written here but in vain.

However, I left clicked on elswords client, go to compatibility, click on run this program in compatibility mode for windows xp (service pack3), also click on run in 640 x 480 resolution, apply, close arc, restart elsword, when you see your character change your screen resolution back to normal and it should work.